Shelter warns blunt rent cap could harm tenants

Capping rents could force landlords out of the market and make life harder for tenants if it is done too bluntly, the housing charity Shelter has warned.

In a report commissioned by the charity and shared with the Guardian, researchers from the University of Cambridge said “hard rent controls” would remove landlords’ financial incentive to invest in their properties, and lead to poorer quality homes.

A survey of landlords carried out for the report found 31% claiming they would sell all or some of their properties immediately if rents were frozen, meaning less choice for those in the private rented sector.

Researchers also warned of a serious risk that a blunt cap on rents would encourage the growth of a black market not subject to rent regulation.

What We Think…

With the housing situation in the UK seemingly becoming beyond an entire generations affordability the term Generation rent was forged. It describes how that generation has been priced out of the market for property and are locked into an unforgiving and inflexible rental market .
It’s shocking to see how many websites there are out there that use the term Generation Rent to inform landlords and homeowners how best to exploit them.
That’s why we chose to launch Generation-rent.com, to give those who are trapped in this demoralising position a voice and a place to gain further insight into why this has happened to them.